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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MELBOURNE, Australia – 2016 semifinalist Johanna Konta raced through a much-anticipated collision with former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, 6-3, 6-1, to return to the second week at the Australian Open.

“Against someone like Caroline, she’s not going to give it to you,” she said in her post-match press conference. “You really do have to earn it and win it till the very last point. I’m just very happy I was able to keep that pressure on.”

Konta rode a seven-match winning streak into the third round in Melbourne, having captured her second career WTA title at the Apia International Sydney last week.

“I think I had a longer streak a couple years ago. Still got awhile to go till then,” she said, referring to a 16 match winning streak she compiled in the summer of 2015 between the ITF and WTA circuits. “But I’m very pleased with how I’ve just been able to problem solve in the last matches that I’ve played, really play myself into matches where I felt I started slowly, and, like today, maintain the level.

“I’ve played against some very good players. To be able to come through that, I’m very pleased.”

Contrasted against the Brit’s meteoric rise was Wozniacki across the net; the Dane had been the model of consistency for much of the last decade before an injury-addled 2016 took her as low as No.74 in the WTA rankings.

A run to the US Open semifinal served as a springboard for the No.17 seed, who returned to the Top 20 by year’s end and was looking to interrupt Konta’s run with a big win to start the season.

The first six games were hotly contested, but each went with serve before the Brit broke through on her third break point of the opening set, winning eight straight games to take a set and 5-0 lead.

“I know this may sound like a broken record, but I do try very hard to always make sure I really take the good and the things I can improve on from every match that I play and reinvest it into the next match. Whenever a similar situation arises, I make sure that’s in my bank and I can use my experience from that.

“I think hopefully I’m getting a little wiser.”

Undaunted, Wozniacki got on the board and pushed Konta through a tense final game before the No.9 seed clinched victory in one hour and 17 minutes.

“She played really well. She served really well, returned deep. She was going for the lines. It was going in. You could see she had the confidence,” the Dane said after the match.

“I’m looking forward to the season. It’s a better start than last year. We just have to go from here, go back and grind and then come back and play again.

“There’s lots of tournaments ahead. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Up next for the top-ranked Brit is 2015 Australian Open semifinalist Ekaterina Makarova; the No.30 seed survived a titanic ecounter with reigning BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global champion and No.6 seed Dominika Cibulkova, 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-3.

“Every time we play, we have a battle,” Konta said of her Russian rival. “I think last year was 8-6 in the third. I remember that was a high-level match from both of us. That was really a great match to be a part of.

“She had a great match against Dominika Cibulkova. Dominika is not an easy player to beat, and she was able to do that. She’s playing obviously great tennis.

“I think she really enjoys playing here. She always seems to do well on these courts. I’m looking forward to it. We’ll deal with whatever challenges come up the next day.”

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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MELBOURNE, Australia – CoCo Vandeweghe ended No.1 Angelique Kerber’s title defense at the Australian Open on Sunday, defeating the German 6-2, 6-3 in the Round of 16 to make her first quarterfinal in Melbourne. Ranked No.35 and set to rise to a career-high ranking after the tournament, the big-hitting American bullied Kerber off the court with her power, firing 30 winners to 20 unforced errors in just 68 minutes.

1. This result was in the cards.

On paper, this was a significant upset. In actuality, you could see it coming from a mile away.

There’s no way around it: Kerber was still trying to find her form in Melbourne. She came into the tournament with just three matches under her belt – two of them losses – and though she successfully navigated the first week of play, she was never convincing.

The defending champion needed three sets to get past Lesia Tsurenko in the first round and Carina Witthoeft in the second round, relying on her physical defense to grind out matches against players who tried to hit her off the court.

That defense finally found its match against the ballistic ball-striking from Vandeweghe. The American is into her second Slam quarterfinal after scoring strong wins over Roberta Vinci, Pauline Parmentier, Eugenie Bouchard, and now Kerber. Her serve has been cranking and her backhand in particular has dominated her matches. Kerber’s defense alone would not be enough to unwind Vandeweghe on her day.

The German needed her serve — which has not been at the level it was last year — as well as good depth and width on her groundstrokes. Instead, she sent back a buffet of short balls in the middle of the court, which were automatic for Vandeweghe.

2. CoCo’s confidence carries her through.

The American insists that sometimes she “fakes it until she makes it”, an allusion to the idea that she’s not always as confident as she may seem on court. But there’s no denying that Vandeweghe talks as big of a game as she plays and that swagger seems to translate into tremendous clarity on court. Since the start of 2016, Vandeweghe has won 5 of her 6 meetings against Top 10 players.

Next, she gets a shot to avenge that one loss to Muguruza in Cincinnati last summer.

After coming back from a break down in the third set to beat Bouchard in the third round, Vandeweghe shrugged off any implication that the win was a particularly significant one. After converting match point against the World No.1 and defending champion, she calmly looked to her box and nonchalantly shrugged.

The message is clear from the 25-year-old Californian: this is what she expects of herself and this is what she knows she can do.

3. The No.1 scenario is simple.

Serena Williams can retake the No.1 ranking if she wins the Australian Open title. She plays her Round of 16 against Barbora Strycova on Monday.

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News | WTA Tennis English

News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MELBOURNE, Australia – Johanna Konta will play the biggest match of her career on Wednesday when she faces six-time champion Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. By all accounts, the 25-year-old doesn’t even see it that way.

Konta, who is riding an eight-match winning streak after taking the Apia International Sydney title, has won her last 18 sets of tennis. Her serve, a weapon that has emerged as the cornerstone of her game, has been broken just twice in Melbourne. There’s no reason for Konta to be short of confidence going into her first career meeting against Serena, but the humble Brit’s approach to her tennis these days is what sets her apart from the pack.

Look no further than the final game she played to beat Ekaterina Makarova, 6-1, 6-4 in the Round of 16 on Monday. Serving to close out the match, Konta found herself down 0-40, a point away from finding herself back on serve against the talented Russian. She saved the first break point with an unreturnable first serve, the second with a forehand winner, and the third with an ace, cool as you like. Four points later, the match was over.

Closing out matches, handling one’s nerves with so much on the line, these are the marks of a resilient competitor. Just 48 hours earlier, 19-year-old Jelena Ostapenko had No.5 seed Karolina Pliskova on the ropes and twice failed to serve out the match, blowing a 5-2 lead and losing. The young Latvian immediately copped to her nerves, saying she was impossibly tight as she stared down the biggest win of her career. Konta, serving for a spot in her second career quarterfinal, didn’t even flinch.

Johanna Konta

So how did Konta do it? Here’s her eloquent response from the interview room after the match:

Q. You said the other day that you were surprised how you close out sets and matches as if it was any routine service game. Where do you draw that confidence in those big moments?
JOHANNA KONTA: I think more than anything it’s more trying to disassociate myself from the importance of the moment. I think it’s more keeping things in perspective and not panicking if I were to lose that service game or that point.

I think just keeping things in good perspective and just having trust in myself that however the match will swing, I will always be there to give my best and to always try to leave it all out on court and fight till the very end.

Q. When you talk about disassociating yourself from the big moments, obviously a lot of players struggle to do it, and I’m sure you struggled to do it five years ago. Why is that so difficult for most players? Why was it difficult early on to kind of be able to not be overwhelmed by the importance of moments in a match?
JOHANNA KONTA: I think it’s difficult, because you have also got to put things in perspective. Everyone you see playing has been playing since they were a little girl. And it’s no secret that to get to whatever sport or even whatever area of life, if you want to be part of the elite and if you want to get to the top of your field, there will be numerous sacrifices you’ll need to make.

And I think when you get to a position where you might see a glimmer of what you have dreamed of as a little girl or what you hoped for, what you’ve worked so hard for, it can feel kind of an all-or-nothing moment or what if I never get this chance again?

I think it’s more a bit of possibly fear of being able to replicate the position you’re in more than anything, but then I think that’s where you have also got to have a good perspective on things, and you’ve got to keep, I guess, the simple things in mind of what’s important to you.

Are you healthy? Is your family healthy? Do you have people around you that you love? Do you have people around you that love you?

I know it might sound really mundane and simple, but I guess you’ve got to go back to things that have got substance, and then in the end just trust in the work that you do, if it’s in the cards for you that you will get another opportunity or you won’t. I think [you have to] really love the sport for what it is and be grateful for the opportunities that it brings you, not necessarily what you wish it would.

Q. Going back to the separating yourself from the importance of the moment, in that nanosecond where the little voice in your ear goes, Psst, it’s match point, what is the trigger that you can shut that voice out, and how long does that take for it to become automatic?
JOHANNA KONTA: I don’t think it’s about necessarily, for me personally, anyway, about shutting it out. It’s more accepting that, Oh, I have got a little bit of tension. Or accepting that my mind might be yapping away, not necessarily fighting against it, but relaxing into it and saying, It’s absolutely normal to think like this.

I think it’s then easier for your motions to take over more than anything because you’ve got to trust the tennis in you, the motions in you, years and years of playing that I’m all of a sudden not going to forget how to serve. I have been doing it, I don’t even know how long, so I think it’s more just having that trust in the repetitions that you’ve had over the years.

Johanna Konta

Konta’s transformation over the last 18 months has been one of the most confounding stories in the women’s game. How does a player, one who was once a terrible closer who would let her emotions impede her game, suddenly learn to set it all aside and trust the tennis within her? Experience and maturity certainly play a role, as does Konta’s work with a sports psychologist.

But the rapidity of the change and her unwavering commitment and belief in herself is remarkable and a fantastic example to players up and down the rankings. Asked whether she believed she could beat Serena, Konta dismissed the premise of the question.

“I believe in my own ability,” she said. “I believe in the good things that I bring to the court, and I believe in my ability to fight till the very end.

“Now, there’s that and then there’s also an opponent out there, and this one’s going to be Serena Williams. I think it’s about playing, me going out there and doing what I want to do against her, and it will be about just staying focused on that. And if that brings me good things on that day, and if that puts me in a position to come through, then that’s great.

“But I’ve got to focus on the work and not think of whether I can or cannot beat her. I just need to stay on the work.”

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

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22 Snaps Of Serena’s 22nd Major Title

22 Snaps Of Serena’s 22nd Major Title

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970
Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber walk out on to Centre Court for the Wimbledon ladies final.

Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber walk out on to Centre Court for the Wimbledon ladies final.

It's the second time these two have met in the finals of a Grand Slam this year, with Serena having lost to Kerber at the Australian Open.

It’s the second time these two have met in the finals of a Grand Slam this year, with Serena having lost to Kerber at the Australian Open.

It was Serena's powerful serve against Kerber's tenacious rallying.

It was Serena’s powerful serve against Kerber’s tenacious rallying.

The match featured sizzling baseline battles punctuated by forays to the net.

The match featured sizzling baseline battles punctuated by forays to the net.

Kerber did her part to keep the match competitive and stayed aggressive throughout.

Kerber did her part to keep the match competitive and stayed aggressive throughout.

Famous fans: Beyonce and Jay-Z were in Serena's box rooting for the World No.1.

Famous fans: Beyonce and Jay-Z were in Serena’s box rooting for the World No.1.

They weren't the only famous faces in the crowd: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi enjoyed some world class commentary from Billie Jean King.

They weren’t the only famous faces in the crowd: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi enjoyed some world class commentary from Billie Jean King.

Championship point! Serena reacts to winning the match.

Championship point! Serena reacts to winning the match.

Serena collapsed in elation after winning her seventh Wimbledon title.

Serena collapsed in elation after winning her seventh Wimbledon title.

Respect: the finalists share a hug at the net.

Respect: the finalists share a hug at the net.

Serena avenged her Australian Open loss to Kerber.

Serena avenged her Australian Open loss to Kerber.

Nope, that's not world peace. Serena now holds 22 Grand Slam titles, tying Graf's all-time record.

Nope, that’s not world peace. Serena now holds 22 Grand Slam titles, tying Graf’s all-time record.

Serena finally reunited with a familiar prize: the Venus Rose Water Dish.

Serena finally reunited with a familiar prize: the Venus Rose Water Dish.

Both finalists received their trophies and exchanged words of admiration.

Both finalists received their trophies and exchanged words of admiration.

The Wimbledon Ladies' trophy, back in Serena's hands...

The Wimbledon Ladies’ trophy, back in Serena’s hands…

The BBC's Sue Barker did the post-match interview.

The BBC’s Sue Barker did the post-match interview.

The finalists and their trophies.

The finalists and their trophies.

Kerber took a lap and walked off Centre Court with her head held high.

Kerber took a lap and walked off Centre Court with her head held high.

But for the champion, it was time for photos.

But for the champion, it was time for photos.

All eyes were on the World No.1 on her historic day.

All eyes were on the World No.1 on her historic day.

Afterwards, Serena stepped out to the All England Club balcony to greet the gathered crowd.

Afterwards, Serena stepped out to the All England Club balcony to greet the gathered crowd.

Serena presented the trophy to the All England Club for the seventh time.

Serena presented the trophy to the All England Club for the seventh time.

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Vote: June Breakthrough Of The Month

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

June was defined by three breakthrough players who brought some impressive performances on and off the court. Which one soared the highest?

Have a look at the nominees for June’s Breakthrough Performance of the Month and cast your vote before Thursday at 11:59pm ET! The winner will be announced Friday, July 15.

June 2016 WTA Breakthrough Performance of the Month Finalists:

Elena Vesnina: The Russian veteran has enjoyed regular success at the upper echelons of the doubles circuit, but finally broke though in a big way at a singles Slam, reaching her first semifinal at Wimbledon with wins over Ekaterina Makarova and Dominika Cibulkova. Ranked outside the Top 100 to start the season, Vesnina has cut her ranking by nearly 100 spots since her February low of No.122 and is back inside the Top 25 for the first time since January of 2014.

Madison Keys: Keys not only earned her second title on grass at the Aegon Classic, but she also made a major rankings breakthough by becoming the first American to debut inside the Top 10 since Serena Williams in 1999. Keys backed up her newly minted Top 10 ranking with a run to the second week of Wimbledon, her sixth trip to the round of 16 or better at a major in her last seven outings.

Anastasija Sevastova: Briefly retired for a space of 18 months, the Latvian is arguably playing better than ever as she continues her climb back up the rankings, making a breakthrough at the Mallorca Open, where she reached the final – her first since 2010. The run also brought Sevastova back into the Top 70.

2016 Winners:

January: Zhang Shuai
February: Jelena Ostapenko
March: Nicole Gibbs
April: Cagla Buyukakcay
May: Kiki Bertens

How it works:

Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com

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Schnyder Brings Sunny Attitude To Gstaad

Schnyder Brings Sunny Attitude To Gstaad

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

GSTAAD, Switzerland – Patty Schnyder was set to play first WTA main draw match since 2011 before a rain storm held serve, canceling her scheduled first round encounter with Katerina Siniakova on Tuesday. Nonetheless, the former World No.7 was optimistic about taking her comeback to the next level.

“It all depends,” she told press when asked what she would consider a good week. “If I play a great match in the first round, and my opponent plays an even better one – because they can all say – why couldn’t I call that a good week? But obviously I feel ready and I want to win the match once I step on the court. I’d feel the same way with a quarterfinal.”

Schnyder made a tentative return to tennis last summer by playing a series of ITF Challenger tournaments, and was offered a wildcard to play qualifying at the Volvo Car Open, a tournament she’d twice finished runner-up in 2002 and 2006.

“There’ve been challenges everywhere, every week I go, I find challenges. I’m not really watching the rankings too much, and most of the girls, I don’t even know, so I’m just trying to adapt, see how they play and feel good with myself and my tennis.”

Awarded a main draw wild card at the inaugural Ladies Championship Gstaad alongside young countrywoman and junior French Open champion Rebeka Masarova, Schnyder won’t handicap the field too much, opting for a full immersion before analyzing just how much has changed since she was a fixture in the Top 10.

“It’s really hard to tell because I think you can only judge it once you play the girls. It’s not so easy to watch on TV and make a comment. Like I said, I was able to play in the German league, several matches against Top 100 players. I played one that was really physical with Friedsam, and I think it’s going in that direction, with the serve and return really improving.

“The constants, playing the rallies, that feels the same. Maybe I’m missing a bit more than before, but I have to play a few more of these girls to really say something.”

Patty Schnyder

All photos courtesy of Ladies Championship Gstaad.

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King Battles Through In Bucharest

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

BUCHAREST, Romania – Vania King toppled the No.8 seed Cagla Buyukakcay after a two-hour-and-twenty-minute battle, emerging victorious 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-1 to book her spot into the quarterfinals of the BRD Bucharest Open.

King’s victory today marks the first time she’s won back to back WTA main draw matches since July of 2014. She has been sidelined with a right knee injury for several months since then before making her return to the tour in August last year. Despite making deep runs into several ITF events, she’s struggled to put together WTA-level wins as she continues her comeback.

King is set to face Pauline Parmentier in the next round. The Frenchwoman fought through a tight first set to advance past Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-6(3), 6-4.

More to come…

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